Songs of Solomon 1:2

Menu

Archive | October 2017

Hello there! I am so excited to share a piece I wrote this summer that has been featured on Permission To Write’s online journal!:

I walk in from the rain and glance inside the trendy restaurant to the table by the window. It’s surprisingly busy for a weekday. I’m playing hookie from work and I wonder what the heck everyone else is doing. Instead of seeing the black couple engaging in conversation, I see my friend sitting across from me sometime last year. A fellow single woman in her mid 30s with brown hair and a kind heart. It was spring and we talked about the summer and what kind of outfits would flatter her pear-shaped figure. I offered my services because, for some reason, turning 30 made me a fashionista. Then we moved on to men. Where were they?

Please click on this link and turn to page 11 if you are interested in reading more!

I picked you up yesterday like I have so many times before. Still, it had been a while. You’ve grown and I had flashbacks of when you were a baby: an aggressive round little brown girl. I never had a brown girl of my own and even though I wasn’t chosen to be your godmother by your mother, you chose me. And so did God.

So we bonded. An easy bond. I loved you. An easy love. And somehow I ended up being a role model and praying for you constantly that you would break the generational curses. You had a hard way from the start and I knew every prayer would count. You’re smart, perceptive, resilient, and a survivor. I can see easily how God has given you the gifts and talents to overcome the deficit of resources you were born into.

Yesterday we road on a hay ride, ate junk food, danced and I stood in a line for 40 minutes for you to get your face painted.

You had never ridden on a hay ride and I love introducing you to new things. It did not escape my notice that when I dipped my fries in bbq you did the same. And when I took a chair in that 40 minute line, you did the same. You follow me and that reminds me of the responsibility I was given. The one I never asked for but couldn’t help but say yes to because of the fondness I have for you.

Pretty soon you’ll be 10 😮. You’ll be a preteen. I’m seeing the changes in you each time I see you. Now you no longer make goofy faces at the camera, you actually smile at it. You’ll be hitting some important milestones and I am in awe that I got to be a vital part of your story. Without me even realizing it, I had a special assignment in your life.
And you have a special one in mine. On mother’s day when I get those calls they warm my heart. As a childless women in her mid 30s I recognize that God gave me a spiritual child.

I look forward to our continued journey together, watching you grow and praying for your wellbeing.

I know our connection is a confirmation that you will do great things.

Sometimes in life the unexpected happens. Like you go to an event when you really don’t want to go because you have a cold and you’re tired but you go anyway because you care a lot about the person hosting it. And you also have a special position on their campaign team and they could potentially be chosen to be Mayor of the city. So you decide to go and after a nap you put on real clothes and even surprise yourself at how well you clean up. The new gear puts an extra pep in your step and you think, “The night won’t be so bad after all.” But still, you don’t know how true that statement will be. Because your expectations are minimal that you would actually meet someone and have a good time and something normal like that would happen. So you make it to the event and scan the crowd (which is sparse because its still early) and you see some familiar faces. You make small talk with a few but its clear there’s no one there for you to really connect with. But then this guy engages you in conversation with himself and another guy. Then the night flies by with you and the one guy conversing, until all of a sudden you’re sitting at a table with him 2 hours later, enjoying the interaction. And at the end of the evening you make your exit because the cold that you’ve been fighting for days is getting to you and you have to get up for work in the morning. So even though you’re enjoying the convo, you leave, pausing a second to see if he will make a move. But he doesn’t, so you leave, telling yourself, “It’s cool cuz that’s the norm.” But to your surprise he exits behind you. Runs after you, actually, just to get your phone number.

Sometimes in life you will actually meet someone face to face, not online (not that there’s anything wrong with that) or on social media (nothing wrong with that either) but in real life. And the guy will get your number, actually follow up immediately and not play the 3-5 day rule (wait 3-5 days to call). And he will keep following up. Letting you know he’s interested. Taking you out. Giving you quality time and attention and respect. And even introducing you to his friends.

Sometimes stuff that you think only happens in the movies actually happens in real life. And even though its not perfect (far from it) and doesn’t look anything the way you thought it would (does anything ever?), you recognize–it is a blessing.

Because it’s hard to find quality people to connect with. And it’s wonderful if that connection happens organically.